ABSTRACT
The kingship may be in dispute, but since Samuel has anointed David, David is the only man who can rightly claim to be God's anointed. The Bible reveres David as Judah and Israel's greatest king. David's punishment will be severe, and there will constantly be strife, murder, and rebellion within his household. During the spring when the heavy winter rains end, Joab and the army go to besiege Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, but "David was sitting in Jerusalem". David has taken Uriah's wife in secret, but God will give David's wives to other men "before all Israel and before the sun". The Lord sends the prophet Nathan to David. He relates the story of two men, one of whom was rich and one of whom had one little ewe, which he fed out of his own cup. David has a beautiful daughter, Tamar, the full sister of Absalom "father of peace," who is a very handsome man.
